Presentation to the MU-SPIN/NRTS

November, 1999

Carolyn Ng, NASA/GSFCng@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

                        

NASA Space Science Enterprise

Solar System Exploration (SSE) Theme

Origins Theme

Structure and Evolution of the Universe (SEU) Theme

Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Theme

• How did galaxies form? • Are there other habitable planets outside our solar system? • Is life unique to Earth and if not, where else?

• How habitable is Earth? What extraterrestrial resources are available?How habitable is Earth? What extraterrestrial resources are available?• How did the solar system form? How has it evolved?How did the solar system form? How has it evolved?• What is the origin of life and its existence beyond Earth?What is the origin of life and its existence beyond Earth?

• What is the structure of the Universe?What is the structure of the Universe?• How are the cycles of matter and energy exchanged between stars?How are the cycles of matter and energy exchanged between stars?• What are the ultimate limits of gravity and energy in the Universe?What are the ultimate limits of gravity and energy in the Universe?

• How and why does the Sun vary?• How do the Earth and planets respond?• What are the implications for humanity?

                        

Space Science EPO Ecosystem:

Education Forums National Coordination

Long-term Sustainability

Improve the Effectiveness of SEC EPO Activities

Identify and Disseminate Best EPO Practices

Coordinate EPO Programs from Missions

Prevent Duplication of Effort

- Conference participation

- Participation in high leverage EPO events

- Create EPO resource directory

- Assess and respond to user needs

Seek High-Leverage Opportunities through Partnerships

Make Connections with Existing Education Networks

                        

Space Science EPO "Ecosystem”: Broker/Facilitators

•Arrange collaborations between scientists and educators

•Identify high-leverage opportunities

http://http://spacescience.nasa.gov/education

                        

What is Sun-Earth Connection?

Quest I: How and why does the Sun vary?• Interior Dynamics

• Solar Plasma/Magnetic Field Interactions

• Origin and Evolution of the Corona and the Solar Wind • Interaction of the Solar Wind with the Interstellar Medium

Quest II: How do the Earth and planets respond? • Solar Interactions with the Earth's Atmosphere and Space Environment

• Comparative Space Environments

• Impacts on Life on Earth

Quest III: How do the Sun and Galaxy Interact? • Regions separating the heliosphere from the local interstellar medium

• Sample properties of the interstellar medium

Quest IV: What are the implications for humanity? • Impacts of Space Weather

• Changes in the Earth's atmosphere

• Origins of Life

• Habitability of Space

http://www.lmsal.com/sec/

                        

The Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum works with...Missions• All space science missions now have EPO activities

• Missions are the most productive source of EPO products

Scientists • Primarily supported by grants or by own institutions

Special Projects • High Leverage Opportunities

• New initiatives supported by grants

Three other national forums

Five Regional Broker/Facilitators

                        

SEC Operating Missions

SOHOACEWIND

TRACEYOHKOH

VOYAGER ULYSSES

GEOTAIL

IMP-8

SAMPEX

POLAR

FAST

SNOE

                        

Missions...ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) EPO

Cosmic and Heliospheric Learning Center (CHLC) Website– Over 70,000 hits to date– Includes astrophysics basics, glossary, history of

cosmic ray studies, related news stories, related

educational activities, and online Q&A

Exploring the Extreme Universe CD-ROM– LHEA science Web sites presented in the

context of the larger LHEA mission– 4 Learning Centers (CHLC is one) and 16 LHEA

missions (CHLC and ACE included)– 10,000 copies in first printing

http://helios.gsfc.nasa.govhttp://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov

                        

ISTP (International Solar and Terrestrial Program) EPOStorms from the Sun

–80,000 copies printed in English–50,000+ distributed nationally at various science and education meetings–Available through NASA CORE–Also available with movies on the web

Tormentas Solares–10,000 copies of Spanish-language version of “Storms from the Sun” printed in March 1999

“The Forecast” brochure–Intended as overview of space weather for reporters, educators, policy makers–Developed with Space Science Institute–Printed 11,000 in 1998

http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/outreach/

                        

SOHO (Solar Heliospheric Observatory) EPODynamic Sun CD-ROM

– Multimedia, educational presentation on the Sun with over 30 video clips and animations; middle school and high school versions, with teacher’s guides

– 30,000 produced in 1999 (~80 cents each) - only a few copies left

– Includes interactive poster, image sets, glossary and FAQs

– Voted best presentation at Dec. ‘98 AGU Teacher Workshop

– Used in numerous teacher workshops around the country

Described by one workshop presenter as

“a huge success!”

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/explorehttp://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/explore

                        Progress into 21st Century on Cable TV

• Voyager/Ulysses Project Outreach• Program aired in 6 Los Angeles Counties• Award-Winning Space Web Site for Kids

Passport to Knowledge - Live from the Sun

• ‘Electronic field trip’ - broadcast TV, videotape, Web chats, e-mail, teachers’ guides• 250 PBS stations and NASA-TV• Estimated reach: 1.5 to 2 million people• SEC mission participation: ISTP, SOHO, ACE

                        

Some of the Future SEC Missions and their EPO activities:

http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetryhttp://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry

HESSI (High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager)http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/hessi_epohttp://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/hessi_epo

IMAGE/Public Outreach, Education, Teaching and Reaching Youth (POETRY)

•Blackout! video and textbook•Science and math workbooks

•Spectroscopy and the Sun•HESSI Model

                        

Scientists…Projects INSPIRE and Radio Jove

Planetary Radio Astronomy

for Schools

• High School Projects • Observing natural and manmade radio waves in the audio region • Studying Earth’s ionosphere; Jupiter and the Sun

http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/inspire/ and http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/

                        

SUNBEAMS

PARTNERSNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterDistrict of Columbia Public Schools

District of Columbia Alliance of Corporate Partners

Students United with NASA Becoming Excited About Math and Science

Teacher Workshops

Student Workshops

Family Nights

Sharingthe Process

and Excitement

of Science

and Technology

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunbeams/

                        

A complete course, for high school and self-study, covering

Basic astronomy,

Newtonian mechanics

Spaceflight and space exploration. Also:

11-part “Mathematical Refresher.”

Rich in history and space-related applications, including the story of

spaceflight, associated physics, methods of achieving space (both

mainline and offbeat!), and many outside links.

79 linked files with many illustrations, as well as a cross-linked glossary,

two timelines, a guide for teachers, a list of problems,

an inventory of concepts, cut-out sundial project and much more.

Opened November 1998, about 130,000 hits (~13,000 users) in March 1999.

Selected “Astronomy Site of the Week” by Griffith Observatory, December 1998.

“From Stargazers to Starships”

Dr. David P Stern, Planetary Magnetospheres Branch, GSFC Code 695

http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sintro.htm

                        

Special Projects...QUEST Chats

• Based at Ames Research Center • Provides webcasts and chatroom venues for NASA scientists

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/index.html

• Used by a network of thousands of teachers across the USA and world-wide.

                        

Total solar eclipses used as a ‘hook’ to highlight SEC science

• High Visibility Live@The Exploratorium Webcasts• National participation of museums• Extensive Media Coverage Interactions between SEC scientists and the public

                        

http://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse

http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/index.html

                        

Space Weathercoming soon to a museum near you

• A partnership between SSI and GSFC

• Producing a 200 sq. ft. traveling mini-exhibit

• Will include graphics, real-time data, and interactives

• Will reach 750,000 people/year

http://www.spacescience.org/SWOP/Exhibits/Mini_Exhibit/

                        

Selected Works of Forums and Brokers Origins (F)

Space Science Resource Directory

IDEAS Grants (http://ideas.stsci.edu/)

SEU (F)Mission EPO Products

Informal Education (museums and science centers)

SSE (F)Mission Teacher Ambassadors

List of Space Science Resources

SERCH (B)Braille Map of the Solar System

Rural Schools

GIS database of schools & science centers

LPI (B)Public Libraries

                        

Upcoming SEC Events for 1999-2000

Solar Max Coordination Multi-mission and program EPO activities

Live from the Sun More TV broadcasts in the Fall and Spring

IMAGE Satellite Launch First light and launch

HESSI Satellite Launch Launch

GEMS Curriculum Guide A math and science book on “Seasons”

Space Weather Traveling Exhibit Mini exhibit sponsored by GSFC

Connections Planetarium Programs IMAX-quality programs at Rice University

Educator Workshops Teacher training in SEC curriculum topics

Resource Directory Resource review and population

http://sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.govhttp://sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov

                        

Contacts for SECEF

Co-Directors:Isabel Hawkins/Director

Center for Science EducationUC BerkeleySpace Sciences LaboratoryBerkeley, CA 94720

Phone: (510) 643-5662Fax: (510) 643-5660

Email: isabelh@ssl.berkeley.edu

Rich Vondrak/Director

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial PhysicsNASA/Goddard Space Flight CenterCode 690.0Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-8112Fax: (301) 286-1683

Email: vondrak@gsfc.nasa.gov

Co-Managers:Karen Meyer/Manager

Center for Science EducationUC BerkeleySpace Sciences LaboratoryBerkeley, CA 94720

Phone: (510) 642-4185Fax: (510) 643-5660

Email: karena@ssl.berkeley.edu

James Thieman/Manager

NASA/Goddard Space Flight CenterCode 633.0Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-9790Fax: (301) 286-1771

Email: thieman@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

http://sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.govhttp://sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov